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5. First level courses

There are four first introductory courses in philosophy with different themes, each earning six credits :

1. PHIL1001 Knowledge of the world: an introduction to philosophy
2. PHIL1002 The human mind: an introduction to philosophy
3. PHIL1003 Ethics and politics: an introduction to philosophy
4. PHIL1004 Chinese and Western thought: an introduction to philosophy

All these courses are available to Arts, Science, and Social Sciences students, and students of any other Faculties whose regulations allow them. There are no prerequisites. Method of assessment for all four courses : one two-hour examination (50% weighting) and coursework (50% weighting).

Note: For PHIL1001, PHIL1002, and PHIL1004, Arts students may opt to use them to fulfil the information technology requirement specified in Regulation UG3, and thereby earn an extra three credit units. Those taking this option should also register for PHIL1007 USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN PHILOSOPHY (though this is not a separate course).

All first year students are encouraged to learn some logic, for example by taking the three-unit ELEMENTARY LOGIC course (see page ).

PHIL1001 Knowledge of the world: an introduction to philosophy (first semester)

Lecturer : Dr James

Human beings have always attempted to understand and control the world they live in by asking questions, and seeking effective answers, about that world. These attempts have taken many forms, but philosophy has always been a central part of this process of explanation and the progress of knowledge. The questions of what we can know, how we can know, and how we can use what we know, are prime examples of philosophical questions that have come down to us in a long history of inquiry - philosophy is a part of the natural and practical curiosity of mankind.

PHIL1002 The human mind: an introduction to philosophy (second semester)

Lecturer : Dr Perry

This course introduces students to some central philosophical questions about the human mind. For example: What is it to have a mind? Do only humans have minds or do other animals have minds of some kind? What is it to think or believe something? What are emotions? What is the relationship between language and thought? What is the relationship between minds and the world? Are our thoughts and actions free?

PHIL1003 Ethics and politics: an introduction to philosophy (first semester)

Lecturer : Dr Bell

This course will survey what great thinkers have said about the link (if any) between morality and politics. We will discuss the following questions: Do politicians need to be moral? Is the state necessary? What is justice? Is there a trade-off between freedom and community? Should men and women be treated equally? We will discuss classical and contemporary approaches to these questions, drawing upon both Western and Chinese thinkers.

PHIL1004 Chinese and western thought: an introduction to philosophy (second semester)

Lecturer : Professor Hansen

This course introduces philosophical thought from both the Chinese and Western traditions. We will discuss seven philosophers from major movements in the history of philosophy : Plato (Ancient Greece), Mencius (Classical Confucianism), Zhuangzi (Classical Daoism), Nietzsche (Existentialism), Zen (Chan Buddhism), and John Dewey (American Pragmatism).

A set of ten possible examination questions will be delivered in advance of examinations.